Nearly two years ago, EA released Tiger Woods PGA Tour [99¢] into the App Store. This game was remarkable at the time for providing a fairly robust golf experience that was akin to the Tiger Woods series on home consoles. While the graphics were fairly lackluster, the frame rate was incredibly smooth and it was exciting to have such a fully featured golf game in your pocket. The real standout feature, though, was the touch screen swing meter which offered a very direct and organic way to swing clubs in the game, which we talked about in our original review of Tiger Woods PGA Tour.

Now, after skipping a new release last year, EA is back with Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 [$6.99/HD]. This iteration of the franchise brings with it several new features and greatly improved graphics, but the gameplay feels extremely similar to the last version. This isn’t necessarily bad, as the gameplay was the strongest aspect to the last iOS Tiger Woods, and if you enjoyed that game then you’ll likely enjoy this one even more. If you’re looking for a completely new mobile golfing experience however, Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 doesn’t offer that.

The meat of this year’s Tiger Woods is again the PGA Tour which has you entering and competing in the various golf tournaments for cash prizes. Your winnings go towards buying better equipment to improve your game and entering subsequent tournaments throughout the year. Besides this mode, a Tiger Challenge mode has been added where you can play through a number of different types of mini challenges for money, which typically have alternate rules and are generally better suited for a quick play session than playing an entire round or multiple rounds of a tournament.

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TouchArcade Rating:

I wish I could explain why I've recently found myself so infatuated with a golf game of all things, since my real-world golf experience is limited to doing poorly on driving ranges... But, I digress. EA just released a gameplay trailer for Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12, and it looks sweet as heck. We were expecting this game to land next Thursday, and EA just confirmed that date on their end.

Check it out:

Keep in mind the original Tiger Woods PGA Tour [99¢] is still just a buck, and it's hard to say if that price will remain the same or not once its successor is released. (Or if the game will even still be sold or not.) So, if you want the old version, or don't particularly care about having the new hotness, don't wait too long on picking it up.

Last month we reviewed the (Universal) iOS conversion of the classic cybersports title Speedball 2 Evolution [App Store] from Tower Studios, Vivid Games and The Bitmap Brothers. We were thrilled to be able to relive the fun we had with the 1990 original on our favorite mobile game devices today -- and we aren't the only ones, looking at the title's impressive App Store rankings since launch.

To bring the undecided on board, Tower Studios has just released a free "taster" version of Speedball 2 [App Store] that provides a hands-on glimpse of what the game is all about. This free version delivers only a few minutes of gameplay -- the Career mode Speedball Cup (one game) played up to half time -- but it should help in deciding whether to grab the full version which, incidentally, was recently reduced in price from $2.99 to $.99 for a limited time.

Speedball 2 is a futuristic cybersport that's something of a mix between handball and ice hockey. The game takes place between two opposing teams — nine players to a team — in an enclosed, metal arena littered with power-ups and arrayed in warp portals and various score-enhancing mechanisms. Points are scored by getting the metallic ball past the opposing defense and into the goal, but brutality and violence are rewarded along the way. The overall feel is something akin to Atari's earlier, football-inspired arcade cybersport Cyberball, I've always felt. It's nicely visceral.

I recommend that anyone who hasn't played Speedball 2 Evolution give the free demo version a try.

EA just dropped us a note about the upcoming Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 which apparently is coming to the App Store this month. Knowing what we do about EA and how they release games, that only means two possible dates for its release: This Thursday the 24th or next Thursday the 31st. While we're not entirely sure which of these two dates it will drop on, we do know quite a few details about what it will include-

The coolest addition is also the feature EA boasts about first, a "closest to the pin" Facebook challenge which kicks off twice a week. Apparently, much like how you're able to compete with friends in Bejeweled 2 using Facebook, you will soon be able to take a shot on a par 3 hole to see who can get the closest to the hole. It sounds cool, but seems to be entirely dependent on having friends who use Facebook, have an iOS device, and have purchased Tiger Woods 12. There's also the "Tiger Challenge" which is an array of over 20 mini games that earn in-game cashola to then be spent on the entree fee to PGA events or to pump up your golfer's stats.

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Blanket statements are usually reserved for the uninformed, but I can safely say that I haven't liked a single boxing game in the App Store up to this point. Some of them have admirable qualities, but the vast majority either make me long for Super Punch Out or Fight Night on the PS3. It turns out that all I was waiting for was EA's masterful Fight Night Champion [$4.99].

What makes Fight Night Champion so satisfying is that it never strays too far from its console roots, but at the same time does a great job embracing the touch screen technology for combat and the accelerometer for movement. Like the console, the control system in Fight Night Champion works by splitting the control system into quadrants. Where on the console you pop the stick up to do a high jab, here you just have to tap the upper half of the screen. The same goes for the low right hook, where all you have to do is swipe from right to left on the lower half of the screen. Every punch, grab, and hold, from the simple bob-and-weave to each boxers signature punch is done via easy to follow gesture controls, and once you get a round or two in you'll be ready to punch with the big boys.

In addition to the slick fighting, Fight Night Champion comes loaded with 20 boxing legends, from Mohammed Ali to Manny Pacquiao, and also lets you create your own boxing fantasy in the Legacy Mode. I don't know about you, but taking down the amateur hour fighters in record speed with my ripped heavyweight doppelganger sporting American flag shoes ranks right up there with fried PBJ's and Thin Mint cookies. Hop on a multiplayer match over bluetooth or local WiFi and you'll find yourself in iOS gaming bliss… which I guess would taste something like an A1 Thick 'n Hearty Burger.

As killer as the game is though, there's always room for improvement. My first complaint (and this seems to be echoed frequently in the forum) is that the parrying system is unnecessarily hard. I've nailed a few counters in my play, but my fights tend to become brawls with very little blocking (not that I play any different on the console version). I would also love to see the Legacy Mode flushed out a bit with some interactive training sessions and maybe a cutscene or two, or perhaps a pre-fight Rocky montage to really pump me up.

The bottom line is that if you are a boxing fan, and especially a Fight Night fan, Fight Night Champion is a must have app. The controls are outstanding, the boxer selection will please any boxing fan, and the ability to create your own boxer and start your own career is gold. If you ever find me in a restaurant or airport and want to take me on in a bluetooth match, you're on. As Drago would say, "I must break you."

TouchArcade Rating:

Back in October we reported that the classic Bitmap Brothers Atari ST / Amiga / DOS Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe would be making its way to iOS in the form of Speedball 2: Evolution. Moments ago, the game went live in the App Store as a Universal application for both iPhone and iPad [link] and we've taken a close look over the past few days.

Speedball 2 is a futuristic cybersport that's something of a mix between handball and ice hockey. The game takes place between two opposing teams -- nine players to a team -- in an enclosed, metal arena littered with power-ups and arrayed in warp portals and various score-enhancing mechanisms. Points are scored by getting the metallic ball past the opposing defense and into the goal, but brutality and violence are rewarded along the way. The overall feel is something akin to Atari's earlier, football-inspired arcade cybersport Cyberball, I've always felt. It's nicely visceral.

The first thing to say about the iOS version of Speedball 2 is that it's an enhanced version of the classic Atari ST original. I note that right off, due to the fact that a remake of the game was released on the Xbox Live Arcade, featuring "enhanced" 3D graphics...which were anything but. They were 3D, but they were awkward and poorly animated and did not compare to the "classic" mode's top-down, 2D graphics of the original. Speedball 2: Evolution for iOS takes the original's 2D graphics and enhances them while leaving them in their original orientation, making the iOS release the best looking version of Speedball 2 to date.

The list of things Speedball 2: Evolution brings to the table is vast. There are 336 individual players, 20 in-field power-ups, 16 classic Speedball teams along with 12 new intergalactic teams, a 10-season career mode, 10 single-player modes, a multiplayer mode (Bluetooth & WiFi), six arenas on four different planets, and 22 achievements in all. It's an impressive list. The various play modes allow for long-term team-building or just a quick detached match -- whatever suits you.

I, personally, spent more time with the original Speedball back in the day, than with the sequel, and so certain enhancements over said original stand out to me. Among them are the arrays of stars for each team on the arena walls that add points when illuminated by a tag from the ball, sets of spiral ramps situated on the sidelines that alter point-multipliers, and the electrobounce chargers that turn the ball into a weapon. That's not to mention the many power-ups that can be collected during the game, such as those that provide faster movement, body armour, or even freeze the opposing team in place.

Speedball 2 offers tilt controls as well as an optional onscreen D-Pad. I found that I like the tilt controls better than those of most iOS games, but more precision is offered by the onscreen D-pad, which is centered where you touch, adding a nice bit of flexibility. It's a tap anywhere to pass the ball, and a tap-and-hold to perform a high, long-distance pass or to jump to catch such a pass.

In evaluating the game for this review I spent notable time with the Atari ST original to see how it compares to the iOS release -- and had fun in the doing. After playing both titles side-to-side, I have to say that the iOS version is a bit steeper in the difficulty department than the ST original. Also, graphically the iOS version is notably superior to the ST version. I'd call the two pretty well matched on the fun scale, though I was a little more successful on the field on the ST due to its somewhat lower level of difficulty. And, I don't think it was about the controls -- of course the Atari version with a physical stick controlled better, but it was more about the game as presented.

Speedball 2, and its classic predecessor Speedball, brought the excellent Cyberball mechanic to the home, and Speedball 2: Evolution does likewise to the App Store. This is a classic arcade-style sports game that is more about fun than about simulation and accuracy. And, if you're the kind of gamer that takes sports on a pretty casual level like I do, that's a win.

TouchArcade Rating:

Back in the early and mid-90s, NBA Jam exploded in popularity in arcades and on home consoles everywhere with its over-the-top take on NBA basketball. Throwing down monster dunks, catching fire, and trash talking your opponent were all things that made NBA Jam such a blast back then, and that core entertainment was successfully transitioned into the franchise reboot that hit consoles in late 2010. Now an iOS version of NBA Jam [$4.99] based on the 2010 console version has hit the App Store, and despite a couple of omissions it overwhelmingly satisfies in every way if you were ever a fan of the original NBA Jam series.

The familiar NBA Jam gameplay returns here featuring a relatively rule-free game of 2-on-2 basketball with an emphasis on pulling off insane physics-defying dunks and ridiculous shooting sprees. Besides adhering to a 24 second shot clock and a no goaltending rule, pretty much anything goes in NBA Jam. Any player that makes 3 consecutive shots will then be “on fire” and during this time will make a higher percentage of shots, have unlimited turbo, and be immune to the goaltending rule. If you’ve played NBA Jam in the past, not a lot has changed here, but that’s most likely for the best.

Visually the game looks stunning on iOS. The original NBA Jam was the first sports game to use character sprites that were digitized versions of real life players. The new NBA Jam takes this a step further, using 3D polygonal models for player bodies but high resolution photographs of the actual players’ faces for the heads. The effect is hilarious, and a bit creepy, as the various NBA stars make an assortment of funny or intense faces during play. The player models are fluidly animated and the overall performance is fairly smooth, though there is the occasional stutter. The game is also optimized for Retina Displays, and looks especially crisp running on these devices.

The iOS version of NBA Jam uses a smart control system that works incredibly well. There’s a virtual stick for movement, a turbo button in the opposite corner, and based on if you’re on offense or defense a button for passing/stealing and another for shooting/blocking. Using your limited turbo meter not only increases your player’s speed but also enhances your other moves, like turning a simple steal attempt into a full-blown shove of an opponent. This is cleverly and elegantly handled by holding down turbo and then sliding to one of the other two buttons, which works great in practice. There’s a training camp mode which will run through all of these controls, as well as an alternate gesture-based control option, but the default controls were easy to pick up and are my preferred method.

The meat of NBA Jam is the Classic Campaign mode that has you choosing your favorite team and taking on the 29 other NBA teams as well as several additional hidden teams. You can choose 2 players from a pool of at least 3 current NBA players from every team, and some teams have 4 or 5 players to choose from initially. Every team also has at least one unlockable player, which typically includes classic players from the respective franchise and even some mascots. Besides the Campaign mode there is also a Play Now option that will throw you into a one-off game just for fun.

Sadly there is no sort of multiplayer component to NBA Jam on iOS. As fantastic as single player is, any multiplayer-centric game like NBA Jam is always best with human competition. An online multiplayer mode would be ideal, and even a local multiplayer option would suffice, but sadly it isn’t in the cards for this initial release. Also missing are any of the Remix modes or mini-games from the console releases, which is a shame as they would seem a perfect fit on this platform.

At the end of the day, NBA Jam on iOS is just what you would expect it to be - a wonderfully updated version of the classic arcade game. It’s missing some features, most notably a multiplayer component, but the single player offering is more than competent and a lot of fun. There are a ton of in-game achievements to earn which unlock loads of hidden players and special features like “Big Head” mode or alternate basketball styles. There’s also an option to purchase these hidden goodies via IAP if you’re unwilling to work for them through regular play. Players in our forums are loving this game as well, and if you were a fan of the original or just a fan of arcade-style sports games then NBA Jam is an easy recommendation.

TouchArcade Rating:

Last Friday we posted about NBA Jam's inevitable arrival to the App Store, and mentioned screenshots coming soon. Well, EA one-upped the whole screenshots thing by releasing a fantastic little teaser video with just enough gameplay shown to get me really really excited:

According to the info EA has also sent our way regarding the game, it's coming packed with all 30 NBA teams including favorite NBA stars. But what would an NBA Jam game be without unlockables and secret characters? Well, the iOS version is coming packed with those too. They've even teased big head mode. Currently, two modes of play are being discussed: An instant game mode where you select a team and are thrown in to a basketball game as well as a campaign more where you defeat other teams to unlock various goodies.

Still no mention of multiplayer, but I've got my fingers and toes crossed that there's at least some kind of multiplayer as that was always my favorite way to play NBA Jam. Even two player bluetooth multiplayer would make me squeal with glee.

Nothing says “business” quite like a baseball video game with the word “baseball” in the title, so make sure you’re sitting down for this one: Square Enix Europe has announced a game called Big Hit Baseball for the iOS.

Slated to release “soon” on the App Store and created by Beautiful Game Studios, Big Hit Baseball looks to be more of an arcade joint as opposed to a straight-faced simulation like, say MLB: The Show or whatever on the big consoles. In the press release issued this morning about the game, Square notes the “frantic” nature of the game and also talks up the fact that Big Hit features a total of three cup tournaments and 20 different teams.

Fans of Big Cup Cricket [.99 / Lite] and Championship Manager rejoice -- not only is your dev of choice involved in this project, but Square is heavily suggesting that Big Hit Baseball is being built off the foundation of those two games. Also, get ready for this: Big Hit will include a name editor. Now, there's no excuse for not having an entire team of Brad Nicholsons.

So, you got roped into hosting  Super Bowl XLV party today and you’re having one of those Edvard Munch “The Scream” moments as you realize the big game is only a few hours away. Serves you right for having that wicked huge studio, that 1080p high-definition TV, and the kind of personality that allows this sort of thing to happen to you. But, hey, I’ll help you help yourself by pointing out a few apps that’ll smooth out some of the party planning wrinkles, educate you on the Packers or Steelers, or just give you a sense of what the hell Super Bowl XLV is all about.

THE SEASON
The NFL doesn’t like to put its programming on the App Store until the season is over, so there’s no solid way to play catch-up on the regular NFL season without watching several ESPN or NFL Network pre-Bowl broadcasts. However, you can watch the 2010 NFL Playoffs up until the Super Bowl via the 2010 NFL Playoffs [$19.99] app.

There were some cool games this year. Definitely spare a few moments to see Aaron Rodgers go nuts on the Falcons -- dude was almost perfect on the afternoon. Also, check out the Steelers and Ravens battle. It was a ridiculously physical match that I’m sure a handful of players from the Steelers are still reeling from this afternoon. Consider these... crash course games. You'll know whats up for the big game.

THE ROSTERS
But, oh-uh! You don’t know stat lines, roster details, and can’t tell me what Hines Ward or A.J. Hawk look like. There are a couple of cool apps that provide this level of detail. The Official Green Bay Packers [Free] is a winner, as it provides pictures, stats, and roster details like, for example, IR or other injury reports. The Steelers Gameday Plus [$1.99] does about the same, but it lacks the polish and the personal touch.

For an overview of the whole season, check out NFL.com Game Center [$1.99]. And to see what NFL players are saying about the big game today, NFL Pro Tweets [Free] won’t steer you wrong.

STADIUM, ALSO TOILETS
If you want a better sense of where the Super Bowl is, check Super Bowl XLV [Free]. It’s a game guide that provides a 3D map of the bowl where game is being played. In my experience, nothing says, “I know football” quite like being able to tell people where all the toilets are in the new Texas-based arena. Oh, and you can also get your hands on the game program via the Super Bowl XLV Official NFL Game Program [Free].

FOOD FOR YOUR PARTY
If you’re dead set on serving up the ridiculous, calorie-inflated chow that people like to eat on the biggest Sunday of the year, Apple has a monstrous list of recipe apps, such as The Chili Chef [$1.99], Dip Diva [.99], and Cheese Plate [$2.99]. I suggest downloading the Calorie Counter [$1.99] if you’re going this route because, man, you’re going to be putting some stupid stuff in your body over the weekend. Check out Apple’s list.

SIMULATIN' (BE THE SMART GUY)
Of course, you could be the smartest guy in the room if you start talking about the various ways the game played out in the simulations from Madden 11 [.99 / HD], the best football game app out there (check our review out). You could do the same with Gameloft’s NFL 2011 [.99 / HD] or Backbreaker 2: Vengeance [.99], but both feel secondary to Madden.

Have a great Super Bowl Sunday, everyone... And may the best team win!

Back in October we reported that, in what will surely be a dream-come-true for a sizable swath of oldschool iOS gamers, Tower Studios and Vivid Games, in association with The Bitmap Brothers, announced that future sports classic Speedball 2 would be making its way to the App Store in the form of Speedball 2: Evolution. We're happy to now be able to add a good bit of detail -- along with screenshots and a trailer video -- to this excellent news, thanks to a recent release by Tower Games.

The original Speedball 2: Brutal Deluxe, which was first released for the Atari ST back in 1990, was just awesome. It was a sequel to the original, superb Speedball, that was just better in every way. (Some readers with fewer years of gaming under their belts might be familiar with the 2007 XBLA release of the title.) Speedball 2: Evolution, as the name might suggest, takes the game even farther, bringing quick-play, league and cup tournaments, a detailed career mode, along with multiplayer support.

"This is the best version of Speedball 2 since the original and the best remake of any classic title available on the App Store," creative director and Tower Games CEO John Hare, who earlier brought us Sensible Soccer, assures us.

"Speedball 2: Evolution is the most comprehensive game in the series, and a real programming masterpiece thanks to the amazing efforts of Vivid Games. To existing fans this is a classic remake, to the new generation this is a fantastic modern game in it’s own right. It marks the first arrival of a Bitmap Brothers classic to the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad – expect to see many more classic titles re-mastered and updated by us in the future."

Some of the Speedball 2: Evolution features, as listed by Tower Games:

• 336 individual players
• 22 achievements
• 20 power-ups and pick-ups
• 16 classic Speedball teams
• 12 new intergalactic teams
• 10 season career mode
• 10 single player modes
• 6 arenas on four different planets
• Player transfer market and upgrades

Speedball 2: Evolution will be available in the App Store later this month (price not yet determined). And, this is only the beginning of the retro goodness. Tower Games intends to release a series of remakes of classic Bitmap Brothers games for iOS gamers.

The Bitmap Brothers, in years past, also brought us Xenon II, Gods, The Chaos Engine, Cadaver, and Magic Pockets.

We don't really know anything about EA's upcoming NBA Jam other than its release is "right around the corner". Originally released in 1993 as one of the most awesome arcade games ever, NBA Jam sported four sets of controls for two on two basketball matches. As the title may hint, the name of the game in NBA Jam was ridiculous slam dunks that you could execute from the half court line under the right circumstances.

Here's some video from the original arcade version:

It's hard to say which version of NBA Jam EA will be bringing to the App Store, as there have been quite a few iterations over the years since the original arcade game. Hopefully it has some kind of multiplayer, as playing with friends was always the best part of NBA Jam. They're promising screenshots in the not too distant future, so if nothing else, part of the mystery of the upcoming NBA Jam release will be unmasked before long.

In other news, the gaming giant recently revealed some screenshots of Fight Night Champion, the latest entry in to the Fight Night series set to be released on home consoles on March 1st in North America. We haven't heard about the release date of the iOS version, but it's likely safe to assume that it will be around then as well. What's interesting about Fight Night Champion is the addition of a new "champion mode" where you follow the story of a boxer named Andre Bishop as he rises to greatness.

We hope to know more about both of these games soon. To follow along with EA Mobile, check out their Facebook which always seems to be loaded with information about their upcoming games.

I really can't say enough good things about the Baseball Superstars series. They've been getting better and better over the years, and I've spent a ridiculous amount on the 2011 edition which now comes in two flavors. Baseball Superstars 2011 Pro [$4.99] and the new free Baseball Superstars 2011 [Free]. (There's also a Baseball Superstars 2011 Lite [Free], but I'm not sure what the point of downloading that is anymore.)

The great thing about Baseball Superstars, as I explained at length in our review is that it successfully scratches not one but two itches at once. If you like baseball and filling experience bars, this is the kind of game that you can get entirely too involved in as you spend hours training up the various members of your super player roster. You can even play online against other players' teams. It isn't real time, and you're basically just playing an AI controlled match using their stats, but it's still pretty cool.

So what's the catch of Baseball Superstars 2011 now that it's freemium? Well, in most of the Superstars games you could buy various upgrades using G-Points, an in-game currency of sorts you bought via IAP. Now, the "Pro" version comes loaded with 3,000 of 'em, and the freemium version you've got to buy any G-Points you want. Also, the new free version comes with a bit of in-game advertising. The good news is, using and buying G-Points is entirely optional, and if all you want to do is play some baseball, you can do it totally free now.

When Pro Zombie Soccer [Free] was first released last summer, it was by far one of the most anticipated games on our forums. Developed by Super Awesome Hyper Dimensional Mega Team, Pro Zombie Soccer is an amusing spin on zombie slaying, in that you play as a soccer player named Jax and take aim with a soccer ball, kicking it in to legions of zombies. We explained in detail how this works in our review, but here's the basics:

By swiping up and down with your left hand you control Jax's shot angle, as you take aim at the approaching decaying horde. Releasing your thumb will let fly a thunderous kick, tearing apart zombie limbs with abandon before the ball graciously returns to your boot. It's a simple game mechanic that belays some pretty frantic action, particularly in the later game. Kicks can be charged by holding down your thumb before releasing, resulting in a power shot that is necessary to kill certain zombies. ...Read More

Chillingo recently dropped the price of Pro Zombie Soccer to free to celebrate the launch of its iPad counterpart, Pro Zombie Soccer Apocalypse Edition [$1.99 / Lite]. The Apocalypse Edition seems to play identical to the iPhone version with the main difference being how much more you can see on screen at once. Like some HD versions, this one opts to use the additional screen real estate and resolution to keep the game elements the same size, and instead just display tons more at a time. This allows for some pretty crazy zombie battles as the screen gets completely filled with undead.

If you already own the iPhone version (or are downloading it free today), I'm not entirely sure how much reason there is to spring for the upgraded Apocalypse Edition. The new high resolution art looks great, and it's cool having more zombies on screen, but the gameplay is largely the same. Either way, you should totally download Pro Zombie Soccer while it's free, and if you're enjoying it on your iPad, consider grabbing the Apocalypse Edition.

Have I ever told you that I love the Seahawks? I do because if it weren’t for Marshawn Lynch’s thunder thighs and ridiculous stiff arm, the New Orleans Saints would have had another chance at the Superbowl.

I bring this up because first off the Saints beat out my Colts last year and that still bothers me like an eternal pimple on an otherwise spotless forehead and secondly there’s a new version of Madden 11 [$4.99 / HD / Lite] on the App Store, a free version that lets you play out the first quarter of a Colts vs. Saints exhibition match-up. That's not the Superbowl, but it's just close enough for me.

Now, if you’re going to download this I humbly request that you put up as many points on the Saints as humanly possible. Honestly, it’s only proper that you give the virtual Colts their chance at the Lombardi trophy. The Saints stole that thing, man. Stole it!

In all seriousness, you need to download this free app if you don't already own Madden 11 iOS proper. We liked Madden 11 quite a bit in our review, and thought the new automatic play picking system was a great addition. If you like the free version, cool, the main game is for you. If not, well, you probably want to stay away.